Artificial implant valve for the regulation of intraocular pressure

Abstract

An ophthalmic surgical valve implant apparatus for the control and relief of elevated intraocular pressure, by controlled and regulated drainage of intraocular fluid from the eye of a mammal to surrounding anatomical structures, which provides and assures proper and natural positioning of the drainage valve implant apparatus in the eye, encouraging comfortable and diffuse drainage.

We claim: 
     
       1. An ophthalmic valve implant apparatus whereby elevated intraocular pressure is relieved by regulating the drainage of intraocular fluid from the eye of a mammal comprising: a hollow needle for insertion into the eye;   a generally disk-shaped valve housing means having an outer facing side, an inner facing side, a receiving means in the outer facing side, a hollow stem projecting outwardly from said inner facing side, said housing means having a fluid passage extending from said receiving means into said hollow stem, said hollow stem being concentrically interlocked to said hollow needle;   a unidirectional, pressure dependent slit valve means fixedly located within said receiving means of said valve housing means whereby intraocular fluid drains from the eye, when the intraocular pressure becomes elevated, through said hollow needle, through said hollow stem, and through said slit valve means to exit said slit valve means proximate to said outer facing side of said valve housing means; and,   a generally hollow crown having a substantially circular base and a dome substantially conforming to the natural curvature of the eye, said base being affixed to said outer facing side of said valve housing means, whereby a cavity intermediate said crown and said outer facing side of said valve housing means is formed, said generally hollow crown having at least one perforation therein at the juncture of said base and said outer facing side of said valve housing means for drainage of intraocular fluid.   
     
     
       2. The ophthalmic surgical valve implant apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hollow stem and said valve housing means are integral. 
     
     
       3. The ophthalmic surgical valve implant apparatus of claim 1 wherein said inner facing side of said valve housing means substantially conforms to the natural curvature of the eye. 
     
     
       4. The ophthalmic surgical valve implant apparatus of claim 2 wherein said inner facing side of said valve housing means substantially conforms to the natural curvature of the eye. 
     
     
       5. An ophthalmic valve implant apparatus whereby elevated intraocular pressure is relieved by regulating the drainage of intraocular fluid from the eye of a mammal comprising: a hollow needle for insertion into the eye;   a generally disk-shaped valve housing means having an outer facing side, an inner facing side substantially conforming to the natural curvature of the eye, a receiving means in the outer facing side, a hollow stem projecting outwardly from said inner facing side, said housing means having a fluid passage extending from said receiving means into said hollow stem, said hollow stem being concentrically interlocked to said hollow needle;   a unidirectional, pressure dependent slit valve means fixedly located within said receiving means of said valve housing means whereby intraocular fluid drains from the eye, when the intraocular pressure becomes elevated, through said hollow needle, through said hollow stem, and through said slit valve means to exit said slit valve means proximate to said outer facing side of said valve housing means; and,   a generally hollow crown having a substantially circular base and a dome substantially conforming to the natural curvature of the eye, said base being affixed to said outer facing side of said valve housing means, whereby a cavity intermediate said crown and said outer facing side of said valve housing means is formed, said generally hollow crown having at least one perforation therein for drainage of intraocular fluid.   
     
     
       6. The ophthalmic surgical valve implant apparatus of claim 5 wherein said hollow stem and said valve housing means are integral.